Richmond-based Work Labs recently popped up in my Twitter feed as some of RVA’s advertising & design types rallied to defend the firm over some beer-related intellectual property shenanigans.

Way back in 1998, when craft beer was starting to pick up some serious steam, Work Labs created their own brew in partnership with the now-defunct Main Street Beer Company (which was in the current Martini Kitchen & Bubble Bar space). After Main Street Beer Company went out of business, production of the aptly-named WORK beer ceased.

Since showing its campaign in 2005 to a brewery in Colorado, Work Labs has maintained a strong relationship with this brewery. Said brewery also uses the same ad agency as New Belgium Brewery. That other Colorado brewery loved the campaign but was not yet ready to launch a new beer.